Takemoto Gidayu

He was the founder of Gidayubushi and the Takemotoza Theatre. He was born into a farming family in Tennoji Village, Osaka, and his childhood name was Gorobei. He admired the joruri of Inoue Harima no Jo from an early age, and when Harima's disciple Shimizu Rihei performed "Jotomon'in," he played the supporting role. In 1677 (Enpo 5), he appeared in "Saigyo Monogatari" at the Ujiza Theatre in Shijo-gawara, Kyoto, reciting the supporting role of Katayu (later Kaga no Jo), and at the end of the year, he teamed up with the impresario of the same theatre, Takeya Shobei, and performed "Jinmu Tenno" under the name Shimizu Rihei. However, due to poor reception, he left for the west the following year. In 1684 (Jokyo 1), he took the name Takemoto Gidayu and established the Takemotoza Theatre in Dotonbori, Osaka, where he performed "Yotsugisoga," followed by "Aizomegawa" and "Iroha Monogatari." When the new calendar was adopted the following year, Kagajo traveled to Osaka and performed Ihara Saikaku's "Rekishi," while Gidayu countered with "Kenjo Tenarai to Shinreki," which was well received. Kagajo then performed Saikaku's "Kaijin Yashima," and when he tried to overpower Gidayu, who was performing Chikamatsu Monzaemon's "Isse Kagekiyo," a fire broke out in the theater, and Kagajo returned to Kyoto. After this, Gidayu's foothold in Osaka was solidified, and in 1798 (Genroku 11), he received Fujiwara Hironori as Takemoto Chikugo no Jo. In 1703 (Genroku 16), his first sewamono play, "Sonezaki Shinju," was a big hit, and it is said that he was able to pay off his long-standing debts in one go. In 1705 (Hoei 2), Takeda Izumo became the head of the Takemotoza and managed it, welcoming Chikamatsu Monzaemon as the resident playwright, and staged masterpieces such as "Tamba Yosaku Matsuya no Komurobushi," "Keisei Hangonko," "Horikawa Namino Tsuzumi," and "Komochiyamamba." He had a loud voice and left behind over 130 works and many disciples. He passed away on September 10, 1712. He is buried at Choganji Temple, south of Tennoji in Osaka. His posthumous name was Shaku Doki.

[Yoshihiro Kurata]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

義太夫節の開祖で、竹本座の創設者。大坂・天王寺村の農家に生まれ、幼名を五郎兵衛という。早くから井上播磨掾(はりまのじょう)の浄瑠璃(じょうるり)にあこがれ、播磨の門弟清水理兵衛が『上東門院』を興行した際、そのワキを勤めた。1677年（延宝5）京都四条河原の宇治座『西行物語』に出演して嘉太夫（後の加賀掾(かがのじょう)）のワキを語り、また年末には同座の興行主竹屋庄兵衛(しょうべえ)と組み、清水理太夫と改めて『神武(じんむ)天皇』を興行した。しかし不評のため、翌年には西国へ下る。1684年（貞享1）竹本義太夫と名のって大坂・道頓堀(どうとんぼり)に竹本座をおこし、『世継曽我(よつぎそが)』を手始めに、『藍染川(あいぞめがわ)』『以呂波(いろは)物語』を興行した。翌85年の新暦採用に際し、加賀掾は下坂して井原西鶴(さいかく)作『暦』を上演、一方、義太夫は『賢女手習并新暦』で対抗して好評を得た。ついで加賀掾は西鶴作『凱陣八島(かいじんやしま)』を出し、近松門左衛門作『出世景清』を演じる義太夫を圧しだしたところ、芝居から火を発したため、加賀掾は京都へ帰ってしまう。これ以後、大坂における義太夫の地盤は固まり、98年（元禄11）には竹本筑後掾(ちくごのじょう)藤原博教を受領(ずりょう)。また1703年（元禄16）の世話物第一作『曽根崎(そねざき)心中』は大当りで、積年の借財を一気に返済しえたと伝えられている。05年（宝永2）より竹田出雲(いずも)が座本となって竹本座の経営にあたり、近松門左衛門を座付作者に迎えて、『丹波(たんば)与作待夜のこむろぶし』『傾城反魂香(けいせいはんごんこう)』『堀川波鼓(ほりかわなみのつづみ)』『嫗山姥(こもちやまんば)』など名作を上演していく。音声は大音で、生涯に130編余の作品と多数の門弟を残し、正徳(しょうとく)4年9月10日没した。大坂・天王寺の南、超願寺に葬る。法名は釈道喜。

［倉田喜弘］

出典　小学館　日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)日本大百科全書(ニッポニカ)について　情報 | 凡例